Issue date
One of New Zealand’s classic yachts, Atalanta - one of the 5 raters was on the move this month as she headed back to a former home port of hers – Wellington.
The journey from Port Chalmers, where she has been for over 34 years, was not by sea this time but rather by road on an Exclusive Boat Haulage truck. She is now on the hard at Evans Bay, Wellington under the stewardship of the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust who have wasted no time in commencing the restoration project which will see Atalanta restored to her former racing glory days. Her previous owner Julian Matson who purchased her in 1974 has recently donated Atalanta to the Trust for them to restore.
Atalanta, also known as ‘Attie’, was launched in Auckland on the 7th May 1894 having been built at the yard of Charles Jr Bailey and Walter Bailey.
Her dimensions are:
LOA 40’
LWL 27’
Beam 9’ 6”
Originally she was build with a centre board but this was replaced in later years with a deeper keel.
She was built for Messrs J H Smith and J Canning in Napier though she didn’t stay there long for they sailed her down to Wellington to compete in the prestigious Wellington Anniversary Regatta in 1895. She arrived in Wellington on the 16 January 1895 the same time as Rona, a Logan yacht of the division, which she would soon compete against.
Atalanta off Oriental Parade Image from RPNYC archive
Atalanta’s owners left her in Wellington eventually selling her. She competed regularly in both the off shore racing and within the harbour. Atalanta had a high degree of success over her many years of racing.
In 1937 under a new owner, Bill Cunningham, her rig was replaced with the more modern Bermuda rig and she was stripped out for racing and was soon again a competitive yacht on the Wellington scene.
After WWII under another new owner, Hugh Askew, her rig was again replaced, this time with a larger Bermuda rig and her keel was further deepened. She competed at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club with good success eventually winning the most prestigious Cup that was to become known as the Mill Askew Trophy in 1948.
Subsequent owners continued to race her in Wellington at both the RPNYC and Evans Bay up until the early 1970s. In 1974 Julian Matson purchased her taking her first to the Marlborough Sounds then down to Port Chalmers when he relocated to that area. During the 1980’s she was a regular race starter at the Port Chalmers Yacht Club with 1985 being a successful year for Julian with Atalanta taking away most of the silverware that was on offer that season.
Atalanta pictured in the Evening Post 20 February 1933
In the early 1990s Atalanta remained at her berth in Careys Bay, Port Chalmers, as business commitments took Julian away from the racing scene. In 2002 she was taken from the water and placed in a storage building of the Port Chalmers Yacht Club. 11 years and five days later she reemerged a bit dusty but still a solid and sound boat. On the 15 August she was craned on to the truck and headed north.
The journey was not without incident. The truck driver reported that he was crossing the Seddon Bridge at the time of the recent 6.6 earthquake centered at Seddon resulting in Atalanta fishtailing her way across the bridge. She however reached Evans Bay Wellington none the worst for the shake up.
Atalanta shortly after arriving in Wellington 1895, Image by ATL library
The Wellington Classic Yacht Trust has started immediately upon the restoration with re caulking working taking place last weekend. The progress of Atalanta’s restoration can be seen on the Trust’s Facebook page or visit their website www.wcyt.org.nz or contact their President, Gavin Pascoe on gavin.pascoe@gmail.com The Trust would love to hear from anyone who may have early information about Atalanta, memorabilia or may be in a position to contribute toward the restoration of this piece of New Zealand yachting history.
Find out more about Atalanta here. For further information yachting historians Harold Kidd & Robin Elliott have written articles about the 5 raters that have been published in Yachting Magazines, also Gavin Pascoe is a great source of information on Atalanta.
